SH Blog: Stoudemire set to make season debut, Vucevic has record-breaking night

All season long, the relevant topic in hand for the New York Knicks has been this:

Can the pairing of Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony still be successful?

Also, will the power forward really be okay with coming off the bench, long-term?

These questions – though perhaps not immediately as the players become re-acclimated with each other – will soon be answered with Stoudemire reportedly ready to play his first game of the season on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at home in Madison Square Garden, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

“After undergoing preseason knee surgery, New York Knicks All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire will make his season debut on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. Whether or not Carmelo Anthony returns from his hyper-extended knee on Tuesday, the plan remains for Stoudemire to come off the Knicks’ bench. Anthony told reporters that he will test his knee in pre-game on Tuesday and then make a determination on returning to the lineup.”

It’s about time.

Anthony’s status is still in doubt due to a knee injury he suffered last week, but once he does return and Stoudemire inevitably rejoins the starting lineup, we will finally understand – once and for all – whether the pairing will be a force to be reckoned with or a simple case of mismatch.

Also, lets not forget all the talk about of how Stoudemire’s post game has drastically improved after working with Hakeem Olajuwon over the summer. The power forward certainly has a lot to prove this season.